Whose 1:1 is it anyway? Holding inclusive 1:1s that build connection, trust and ownership

Are your 1:1s filling the diary or making a difference?

Regular 1:1s are a significant investment of time for leaders and managers. In a busy week, they can easily become another commitment to fit into an already full diary. Nevertheless, purposeful 1:1s can be one of the most valuable things a leader can provide. They create dedicated time and space with individuals to talk through how they are doing, what support they need, what ideas they have and how they want to develop.

Inclusive 1:1s are person-centred. They recognise that people need different things in order to feel heard, safe to contribute and able to do their best work. Trust takes time to build, and people will not necessarily share ideas, concerns or different perspectives simply because a meeting is in the diary. They need to know they will be listened to, treated fairly and taken seriously.

In this practical Lunch & Learn, Helen and Andrea share what they have learned through Conversations for Change about holding 1:1s that build connection, trust and ownership. They will explore how to balance a leader’s need for clarity and progress with an individual’s need for space to think, reflect and raise what matters to them.

You will leave with practical ideas to prepare for 1:1s, listen with curiosity, respond well to ideas and concerns, and follow up in ways that show people they have been heard. Leaders involved in Conversations for Change found that giving people more space to think encouraged team members to bring more of their own solutions, while giving leaders more capacity to focus on the work only they could do. This session is for leaders who want to make every 1:1 count: strengthening inclusion, connection and trust, while helping people contribute with greater confidence and ownership.